Transparency International to monitor corruption in Russia, U.S.

[Kshasty]

Source: RIA Novosti

Transparency International will monitor corruption in Russia and the U.S., a senior Russian human rights official said on Thursday.

The Berlin-based non-governmental anti-corruption organization has persistently rated Russia as one of the most corrupt nations in the world.

"We have reached an agreement with Transparency International to monitor corruption in Russia and in the U.S. and to develop universal corruption criteria based on the Russian and U.S. experience," said Ella Pamfilova, who heads Russia's presidential Civil Society Institution and Human Rights Council.

"This is extremely important in as far as American businesses operate in Russia and our businesses in the U.S." she added.

The deal was reached during the first session of the Russian-U.S. presidential commission, held in Washington on Wednesday.

In the 2009 Corruption Perception Index, Russia was ranked 146th of 180, below countries like Togo, Pakistan and Libya. The U.S. was ranked 19th.

Read more: http://en.rian.ru/world/20100128/157701865.html